Salutations Chapterlings! I wanted to make a different kind of post and share some of my 5 star reading predictions. I’ve never done one of these posts before. Actually, I make a lot of sticky note prediction lists, but I’ve never sat down and decided to share with you lovely beans some of those predictions. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which books I wanted to put on this list and I’m a little nervous, but I hope you’ll enjoy this list as much as I do making them!
Into the predictions we descend!
Honestly, I was debating on whether or not to put this on my list because I was already in the process of finishing this arc when I decided to make this list. However, if I was going to make this list then this book needed to be a part of this post because this book is part of my top 5 star predictions. So, since I technically already finished this arc, consider this a bonus book. I did end up rating this book 5 stars. If you want to check out my review, you can click HERE! As I said, I gave this 5 stars because this book was just everything. I loved it so much and I think there’s going to be many readers who end up loving this book just as much.
I feel like I’m a little late to the hype train on this book, but I’m glad I discovered this book when I did because I’m so excited to read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. I currently have this book slated for my May tbr. So you’ll be seeing this pop up real soon. This all besides the point. The point is that the synopsis of this book sounds absolutely fantastic and the cover is absolutely stunning. Plus, there’s been some hints that this has Spirit Away elements or inspiration while having mythology woven throughout. I’m not saying I’m making grabby hands or saying this book has it’s claws in me… but I’m also not saying that. I’m just ready and excited to experience this book with my whole soul.
Unraveling by Brandon Leake has been on my radar since the start of 2022. As a consumer of anything and everything poetry related, this has been high up on my list of arcs I’ve been hoping to obtain. And by the beautiful blessings that is Libro Fm, I was able to obtain an audio book alc. There is not a single doubt in my mind that I’m going to love this. I always say poetry comes to us when we need it and I always find poetry has an even stronger impact when you can hear that poetry being given a voice. I can’t wait to dive into the and have my heart ripped out and cry for hours over this poetry collection.
The Lost Dreamer was another one of those 2022 releases that really caught my attention. The synopsis of this book sounds absolutely incredible and I’m really excited to read this. Again, another alc from Libro Fm and giving me the privilege to listen to the audiobook. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m more excited for. The fact that there’s mythology woven throughout this entire book, the magic elements of this book, or the fact that this is a book being classified as a sci-fi book and I’m excited about it. I never get excited about sci-fi books and I’m freaking ready. I ready for this book to knock me out of the water!
I am ready! I am jumping, excited, pre-order ready to go! For the Throne is the next book in the Wilderwood duology and I’m really excited. The way the first book ended has left me on a reading hangover. I need more of these characters, I need answers, and I’m ready. I’m just ready to let this book rock me like a hurricane and leave me in an absolute reading mess. I don’t know what to expect going into this book and no, reading the synopsis is not an option. I want to be surprised. However, my hopes for this book is pretty high which is why this book found it’s way onto this list.
I heard there were demons! *brow waggles* Yes, okay, FINE! I admit I will instantly put a book on my 5 star prediction list if a book has demons or dragons within the pages of the book! But seriously, the synopsis of this book sounds amazing. When I was contacted to read an arc of this book, I was a little weary at first, but let me just quote the first two lines of this synopsis.
“Three weddings. Three funerals.”
Does that not make you want to pick this book up and find out what is going on?! Those two sentences instantly stole my breath away. And then I found out there were demons in this book and I got even more excited to read it. It just sounds freaking amazing and honestly, I really want to know more. You’ll be seeing this pop up again real soon because I’ll be reading this book in April for my April tbr. I have high hopes friends, extremely high hopes.
Whew, I was so nervous to share these 5 star predictions! I always feel like 5 star predictions can be so hit or miss or even feel private at times, but I am glad I shared this list. This is actually one of seven lists I have and thankfully I only decided to list six out of the seven lists I’ve compiled. I hope you all enjoyed this little list of 5 star predictions. I know it’s not a big list or anything of the sort, but I had a lot of fun making this and sharing a little bit of the things I’m thinking about behind the scenes. Until next time friends, stay safe, I love you! π
Do you have a 5 star prediction list? Are any of these books on your radar? Come chat about it in the comments below!
Salutations friends! There’s been a lot of new faces finding their way to my little corner in the book community and I thought I’d do something a little fun and different, post wise. Originally I thought about doing a new introductory post, but I decided I would reveal some fun, interesting, maybe questionable bookish facts about myself that you may not know. Time to grab those snacks, sit back, and brace for a little chaos as I reveal my bookish skeletons!
1 – I’m a big reading multitasker.
You may be asking yourself what this means. Do I eat snacks while reading? Listen to audiobooks while cleaning? Yes and yes, but there’s more to it. I dance… lots of dancing, a lot of blasting lofi, sometimes Ocean Man ends up on repeat while I’m feeling a whole chapter. This is all looped in with the extensive note-taking I do and answering emails. I don’t know how I got here, but I chalk it up to that true Gemini behavior coming through.
2 – I’m the worst at completing series.
Ever since the ACOTAR series, I haven’t been able to touch a series the same way. You know, in the way of totally zooming through the series in three days, kind of devouring of series. The best example I have of this is the Shadow of the Fox series. I was consuming that series like a wildfire, but… it’s almost been two years and I still haven’t finished the third and final book in the series. The hardcover and audiobook stare intensely at me every day and I still haven’t touched it, and the third book is the shortest out of all of them. Is it because I’m terrified to have my heart ripped out by another author? Maybe. Am I still trying to work past that and finish series? Trying and failing, horribly. I’d like to think one day I’ll finish at least one series a year because that seems achievable, but it hasn’t happened yet. Oops…
3 – No you cannot borrow my books!
I think this is one of those traits that’s a mixed bag in the book community. You’re either fine letting friends or family borrow your books or you’re clutching your books to your chest, preparing to fight anyone who dares to touch them. I’m Smaug ready to defend my horde of books. For me, I think I developed this trait at a very young age because there would be people in my life who would take my books or destroy my books, and when you’re a child who’s only friends are books because you’re chronically ill, that’s a very hollowing feeling. So I’m very protective of my books. I think there’s only been two people in my life who’ve I’ve sent my books to and for me, if I ever do that, that’s a sign that I trust you with my whole dang chest. If I send you my books, you mean something to me and I value a whole heck-a-ton.
4 – I get very vocal when reading.
Does anyone else get very loud, have pterodactyl screeches escape their body, and then run to discuss a scene or moment in a book with someone only for everything to come out as gibberish, and everyone in the room staring at you like you grew three heads? Yeah… Definitely not me. Maybe it’s from being such a small person and all my feelings have nowhere else to go so they explode out of me like a kaleidoscope of butterflies or maybe my brain just disconnects from reality and then all my thoughts just emerge from my mouth in an incoherent word waterfall that make no sense. Either way, this is something I’ve done for as long as I can remember and I still do it today.
5 – I buy post-it notes in bulk and have them everywhere!
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve been annotating books since I was six years old. I spent a lot of time in my school library and learning reading techniques at a young age, okay, it’s fine! So I’ve had this habit since I was very young of using sticky notes for everything. There’s not a single room you can walk into without there being a stack of 5-10 sticky notes, of different colors, and pens, lots of pens, scattered in a small pile. I use post-it notes in my annotating, I use them for jotting down my thoughts and content/trigger warnings, I have post-it notes everywhere of posts I need to make for this blog, and so on. I use them for literally everything. Some might say it’s an obsession while others might say a “bad habit”, I’ve heard both, but it works. At least for me it works and it helps with my organization. If you want to see the ones I use; I use colored ones not lined & then I used colored lined ones for lists or content/trigger warnings.
6 – Books, book stacks everywhere!
Books for photos? There’s a stack. Books I’m currently reading? A giant stack consuming a nightstand. Book stacks just all over the place! While my note-taking and annotating of books may be highly organized, this is the complete opposite of my situation for my books. Out of all my bookish friends, I always feel like the chaotic one of the group with having so many different books stacks everywhere, nothing being in the place it should be. Between un-hauling books, books needing to be packed up, and being down to one fully packed cart… it’s a chaotic problem sometimes.
7 – Audiobooks and ebooks get a bad rep, in my opinion.
Yup, I woke up and chose violence this morning. I’m adding spice to this post and mostly because I want to talk about it. I’ve been gone from the book community for about a year, despite regular updates. Coming back and seeing fellow readers doubling down on the whole debate of how “ebooks and audiobooks aren’t considered real reading” or “they’re not as good as the physical book” argument – frankly, this is a discussion as old as time, but also it seems so silly in the big picture of things. I think a lot of people really show their privilege and ignorance when they make statements like this because they’re not taking into consideration those who have disabilities, those who don’t have the privilege of having medium to large spaces dedicated to books, those who can only get ebooks because of their income/budget situation, and so many more situations/circumstances that play a factor into why some people may do ebooks or audiobooks over physical books. Honestly, I really enjoy ebooks and audiobooks. As someone who has chronic illnesses and has a slight visual impairment, I love ebooks and audiobooks. They’re perfect for the times when I’m struggling with these disorders. On the opposite side of things, I’m in the process of moving and audiobooks and ebooks are perfect for when you still want to read, but you’re preparing for big life changes such as moving.
8 – I can never read in the same spot, in the same day.
Most of my designated reading days are usually 50% reading, 25% attempting to remember basic human needs, & 25% changing rooms and positions because I can never be comfortable in the same spot for too long. This typically leads to me roaming my home, flopping across multiple surfaces and places, trying to find the best new reading spot. This is something I do at least three times a week, sometimes more if I’m on vacation from work or sometimes if it’s the weekend, as well.
9 – Constantly updating GoodReads & IG stories.
Every time I take reading breaks, I’ll log in on GR or IG and update pages, post little stories, share thoughts, etc… This is something that I’ve done since I started seriously reading and do more through reviews for books. It also helps with my process of tracking my reading progress, as well. It allows me to process my thoughts on break, reflect on places I stopped at, and circling back to the sticky notes, taking notes for however many chapters I read and jot down thoughts. Also, I’ll take time to update Notion as well. A while back I did a post on how I take reading notes (which I need to make an updated post because there have been some changes) and Notion was a big game changer for me as a reader, blogger, and reviewer. So I’ll take time to update this during breaks and add little notes for the specific things I’m currently tackling for that day.
10 – I struggle with declining review requests.
I’m very much a person who struggles with declining requests to review books. Now granted, I’m very picky of arcs I accept or even personally requested arcs, but when authors take the time to personally reach out to me, I’m a deer in the headlights. Usually authors are so sweet and I’m not going to lie, as a small content creator, it feels good to be noticed sometimes and have authors reach out to you for reviews. However, if you’re someone like me who doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or upset anyone, declining review requests can feel impossible. In fact, as I type this, I have four pending review request emails right now. (Does anyone have any tips or tricks for declining requests?)
Do you relate to any of these facts? Are you a reading screecher as well? Come chat with me in the comments below about your bookish facts or if you have a similar post, feel free to link it in the comments. I hope you enjoyed learning some bookish facts about me. Until next time friends, remember to hydrate, I love you! π€
Salutations friends! Can you believe the year has finally come to an end? Where has the year gone? For real though, I think we were all ready for 2021 to be over with already. Although, 2021 did feel like it was moving at light speed. Does anyone else feel that way?
Anyway, this is going to be a little different from the typical things that get posted here. I thought it’d be nice to do a little reflecting on 2021 and then talk about the goals that I’m setting for 2022. I promise, this is still related to book stuff. So if you want to do a little reflecting and goal setting with me, then let’s grab a cup of hot cider and dive in.
Content/Trigger Warnings:Talk of mental health, brief mentions of the pandemic, talk of physical health, mentions of toxic relationships, and talk of near loss of a loved one
If you don’t want to read through this section or need to skip, then scroll on down to the 2022 goals!
2021 Reflecting
When 2021 started, my goals were easy or “simple”, get back into reading more and getting back on a more consistent posting schedule. – If you were here at the end of 2020, then you may have figured out that things would have drastic changes. Little did I know 2021 would be a hard year of life lessons and putting my resilience to the highest of tests.
2021 hit me like a ton of bricks with nearly losing my mother not once, but twice within a short amount of time. It would then escalate to later on in the year where I almost lost her for a third time. That was one of the hardest things I think I’ve ever faced and truly, I don’t think any of us are equipped to face the grim reaper when it concerns our parents. So that was something I was heavily processing throughout the whole year and a lot of my attention was consumed by helping my family.
2021 was also the year where something inside of me said, “Enough is enough.” This turned into a revelation of realizing really toxic friendships and family relationships that were stealing every ounce of joy and peace from me. Have you ever wonder what a descent into madness looks like? Yeah, like that Lovecraftian stuff you’ve heard about before! Well, this is literally how it felt before something inside of me snapped me awake to the reality that was actually happening. As someone who’s the type of person who would defend others, teeth bared, without taking myself into consideration – choosing myself was one of the toughest act I’ve done in a long while and it was so liberating.
Also, I had major surgery this year while all the pandemic protocols have been in place. And let me tell you, not having my spouse by my side through that experience was a horrible feeling I never want to experience ever again. It was such a lonely, hollowing feeling, but when I was finally able to go home, that was the best part.
And overall, 2021 really did my mental health in. There were a lot of things that happened and there were a lot of things to process through. Even now there’s still things that are healing and processing. Sadly, probably my biggest regret, is my reading and bookish content creation suffered a lot due to all of this. I ended up retreating to a place that has always been a safe harbor for me and I can say, with 2021 ending, I feel better about starting my serious reading again.
2022 Goals
This section is going to be a bit divided between personal life, reading, and content creation goals!
Personal Life
Time Management: I struggle so much with time management. Truly, I do. From doom scrolling to multitasking (like I’m definitely not doing right now), my time management isn’t the best. With that being said, I want to rework the way I spend my time and start using it in more productive ways that aren’t hurtful to my mental health.
Daily Routine: Honestly, I already have a daily routine, but I feel like I could improve it to be more efficient than it already is. I’m very much a creature who needs a well-structed routine and to be honest, it’s fallen into some serious chaos over the last couple of months. So this is my way of just holding myself accountable.
Quality of Life: I don’t talk about it enough, but having three chronic illnesses that all impact each other is a lot to manage. If I’m being honest, I’m not always the best at realizing when I need to stop doing something before things escalate. So, I’m making this a priority to get equipment I need to better manage my illnesses, to feel less guilty about getting what I need to feel better, and to help manage the symptoms a little easier.
Moving: I’ve mentioned this a few times, but we’re in the process of moving. We’re hoping by 2022 to be moved into a new place and honestly, I’m ready for it. I think this will be a huge improvement to so many things in my personal life and I’m ready to start this new chapter.
Reading
TBRs: I love making tbrs even though I don’t always read everything on them. I really enjoy making them and so my hope for the new year is to start making tbrs again. I’m hoping to make them shorter so they’re easier to complete and manage.
Choosing review copies more carefully: While a lot of my books come from NetGalley and though I’m already pretty thorough when I pick arcs. However, I want to make sure I’m being a little more conscious of how many arcs I’m requesting so I don’t get overwhelmed by arcs. I’ve started doing this since November and it’s been going well so far. I’m hoping to keep this ball rolling as we move into the new year.
Read more current releases: With being gone the majority of 2021, I realized that I’ve missed so many new releases. This was put into more perspective once the GR Choice Awards rolled around. While I love reading my backlist or discovering new novellas to read, I miss how on top I used to be with new releases. So I’m hoping to change that this year.
Content Creation
More bookstagram content: Again, 2021 was the year all my bookish content suffered… a lot. Which I feel really sad, really guilty about, but as I mentioned on IG already, I’m hoping to slowly come back. I want to get back into posting as frequently as I can, within reason. I miss making bookish content and showing yall what I’ve been up to book wise.
Consistent blogging schedule: I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that I haven’t missed blogging. I’ve stated before, but I really do love content creating. I love making reviews and bookish content for my blog. So I’m hoping to get back into the swing of blogging as the new year rolls in.
And with that my friends, I think that covers all of my goals for 2022! I know this may seem long or maybe even unachievable, but I promise, I wouldn’t have made this list if I didn’t think I couldn’t accomplish it. Chalk it up to my overachieving personality. I also want 2022 to be a fresh start. A year of reclaiming my happiness and joy in 2022. Truly, I’m ready for 2022 and the start of this new chapter.
Were you able to unlock all of your goals for 2021, or have any exciting goals for 2022? Let’s chat in the comments below or link me to a similar article you wrote! I’m wishing us all the best of luck as the new year approaches and as we all begin tackling our new goals! π
I feel like some explanation is long overdue. Where to begin, what to talk about first, what do I even say…
Greetings everyone! It has been a long, long, LONG minute since I’ve said anything about where I’ve been, what I’ve been doing, what’s happening, etc… First and foremost, I know I don’t owe an explanation on what’s been happening. In fact, I’m planning on keeping this post short and sweet, to the point. With that being said; yeah, I’ve been a bit of a ghost and kind of disappeared for a hot minute.
Life is messy and mine has spiraled a lot since 2020. Even now, my life has still been spiraling. From family things to medical things, all the way to planning to move in the near future. Life has been taking me on a wild ride that I haven’t had the time to hop off of to just… be, to just exist for a moment. In this time that I’ve been absent, I’ve been healing, rediscovering things that I love and did love (at one point in my life), and I’ve been been doing a lot of things that are better for me in the long run.
So you’re probably wondering what this means. Well, I’ve been asking that of myself since the last time we had one of these chats. I made a statement a couple months back that I’ve taken a step back from the book community. Which is true to some extent. Reading burnout is something that hit me really hard in the fall of last year. And if I’m being honest, I never fully recovered from that. To make a long story short, I read a book that really messed me up and it kind of shot my motivation to read to smithereens. Yeah, it was that bad. And in case you didn’t know, I’m a critical reader. I’m that person who goes into every book willing to read all the content/trigger warnings and make sure things are actually talked about and mentioned instead of them being covered up, letting people go into a book blind folded. Yeah, doing that is really mentally exhausting and taxing especially if a book overdoes it on the nitty gritty details. That stuff can mess you up real quick even if you take the necessary precautions to protect your mental health. So it’s been a struggle. I’d start a book then ‘dnf’ thirty pages in. It’s been a real struggle since the burnout happen.
Basically, I’ve been prioritizing books that are either buddy reads or I have some obligation to. Otherwise, most of my reading has been webcomics. Which, don’t knock the webcomics until you actually tried webcomics. Webtoons is a beautiful, glorious place of self-published authors. If you haven’t seen my post on ‘webcomics I’m loving right now’ then you should definitely check it out to get some recommendations. Technically, if I really wanted to, I could write a part two and part three to that article because I’ve been reading so many webcomics. So if that interests you, definitely let me know!
Anyway, this has gone a lot longer than I wanted it to be. But I did want to come say, I’m going to be attempting a September TBR and will be posting more details about that sometime in the next few days. This doesn’t mean I’m fully returning to the book community or anything like that. This just means I miss reading and I finally found some motivation to actually read some books, and potentially get some reviews posted for all of you. So I hope you’re excited because I’m a little excited to share what I have on my “TBR attempt” plate. It’s not much because a lot of my stuff has been packed up for house renovations and moving purposes, but I’m still excited!
Thank you all for continuing to support me, to love my content despite not being around as much, and I can’t wait to read some of the really awesome books I have planned! β₯
It feels like almost yesterday when I made a life update, talking about things happening that are impacting my blog. And now I’ve kind of crawled out of the woodwork to bring another life update. So hello, salutations, I’m here to tell you, once again, the things happening and why it seems like my content has… staggered?become long-winded?kind of…stopped? Well, we have some things to talk about. So I hope you can bear with me as I try to talk about these sensitive topics happening in my life.
Just a content/trigger warning in advance, I’ll be talking about the pandemic, injured/ill loved ones, and loss of a loved one to suicide in this post.
So let’s start with the most obvious thing. I disappeared for a very long time. Almost two months? Three? I’ve lost count. Of course I’ve still posted reviews, but to me and I’m sure to all of you, my content seemed to be staggering. I always want to be clear about my intentions when I talk about things and I always want to be as honest, and as transparent as I can be with all of you. So this is me opening up the wounds and showing the things I’ve tried to keep behind closed doors, behind barb fencing, and tucked away so no one could see. I’ve mentioned a few times, but I never went into great details of what was happening. So let’s address what was really happening to me in 2020.
2020 impacted all of us in various ways. Some of those things were good, but for many, they were bad.
For myself, it came swift and torturous of those twelve months. I’ve lost friendships, seen friends being attacked for good intentions, I’ve felt isolated in a community I originally felt safe and loved in, I had someone breach past all my boundaries, I’ve been harassed and attacked by strangers for giving my honest opinion about the things I’ve read, and even had someone go as far as sending me threats on my social media platforms. And these are just the things that have happened to me within the book community.
All of those things combined, I took a break and even went to the extent of putting my social media on lockdown, deleting my Twitter, and plethora of other things to ensure my safety and security.
When everything started in 2020, I had family members, who have jobs in the medical field, get deployed to the front lines of everything happening. So, while I tried pouring my time and energy into all the content I was pouring out on my blog and other social media, in the back of my mind I had a lot of worry and dread seeping in. In the end, I was stretching myself so thin so I wouldn’t feel the claws of anxiety and fear. Which really took a toll on my physical health.
Then the fall of 2020 came and with that, it was like a bottle of whiskey being smash open over a glowing fire. The worst possible news ended up reaching me. A few of my elderly family members had ended up in the hospital due to severe medical hardships. It came down to crossing all my fingers and toes hoping they would pull through and make it through the holidays.
Then in November I received a call from my childhood best friend and if I’m being honest, it felt like a piece of me shattered when I got that phone call. He called to tell me that his older brother was in a coma and had been hospitalized. My friend and his family are like a second home to me. They have always been such wonderful, loving people and have done so much for me that I can’t even begin to explain because the list is so long. Since receiving that phone call, he hasn’t woken up and the news I get has been dwindling. And being honest, I’m terrified for the next piece of news I hear.
Flashing forward to 2021, it feels like I’ve been facing off with the devil and the grim reaper for months now. Honestly, I was really hopeful that 2021 was going to start off on a positive note. Boy, did my system ever get a shock. It’s literally a sequel and I’m still fighting the devil and grim reaper.
When the first week of January hit, despite everything, thing were pretty peaceful until the following week. The following week I received a call that one of my old friends had committed suicide. They were one of those people who always seemed happy or always tried to make the whole room light up, but their pain was that ‘quiet thunder’ kind. Getting that phone call hit like a ton of bricks and I haven’t really talked about it with anyone. In a way, this has become my ‘quiet thunder’. So I’ve been processing through the weight and grief of that loss.
And of more recently, I found out that one of my family members who works in the medical field had a breach of their suit and now has covid, and they’re not doing so good. Actually, it’s been really hard and it’s been a lot of waves of emotions, a lot to process. Actually, it’s been a really hard time processing everything. I’m really hoping they can pull through because they mean a lot to me and I can’t imagine my life without them in it.
So you’re probably asking a lot of questions right now, like… what does this mean for my blog? what about the content I put out? am I leaving the book community? am I turning into a ghost? First, I’m not going anywhere and neither is the book content I’m putting out.
Taking everything that has happened into consideration, I’m just taking a step back from the amount of content I was creating and how often I’m posting. Saying I’m long-winded at this point would be a giant understatement. Right now, I need to rest and do things that make me happy. And yes, reading does make me happy, but I’m also a critical reader and I do really extensive reviews on the books I read. Over time, that can wear a person’s mental state down and right now, I’m rolling critical fails on my sanity checks.
So have I really become a ghost? The short answer, yes. I’ve very much so a ghost right now. In fact, if you listen closely… You hear that little whisping in the air? That’s the sound of my soul escaping my body right now.
It pains me to say this (I mean, it really pains me to say this), but expect maybe one or two posts a week. I’m giving myself the slack that I need right now. And I don’t regret because I need to put myself first right now. I’m hoping one day I can get back to doing 4-5 posts a week, but right now, that’s just not in the cards.
I know this was a super long post and I know it was a lot of heavy topics, but for those who stuck through it till the end… Thank you so, so much. Truly, thank you so much for sticking by me, for loving me, for loving the content I create. It means the world to me and I’m so grateful to have you here. Thank you! π
The questions from this post were taken from a beautiful instagram template created by @jessbetweenlines.
Salutations friends and new friends! I hope you’re all staying safe, staying hydrated, and taking the time to pause to enjoy the little things. Today I wanted to do something a little different than my typical bookish posts. Recently, a lot of new readers have come to my little corner in the book community and I wanted to do something that allows you to get to know me better. Typically, I don’t share a lot about myself, my personal life, etc… and unless you pay close attention to some of my reviews, these type of posts are pretty rare. So, I thought I’d give you a little glimpse into my life and a little peek into my thoughts. Okay, enjoy! π
π Top Three Books of All Time π
This is an insanely tough question. Mostly due to needing to reread a lot of the books that I love. So, I’m going to tweak this question a little to fit the top three books that mean the most to me thus far in all my reading, with one prediction added in the mix.
This book was such a wonderful read, but this book is so special because Stephen Graham Jones was the first author I ever interviewed. And that may seem a bit silly to have a book feel special in that sense, but for myself, it was one of my proudest moments. It was also a really big learning experience for me because I got to sit down with someone who’s wiser than I am and learn about an important thing they created. It was just an experience I’ll never forget and this book means a whole lot.
This is another book that means so, so much. Wicked As You Wish was my first book blog tour. When I had first applied to the tour, so many had already applied and I wasn’t expecting to get pick, but I did. When I got the chance to talk with Rin and thank her for making me a part of her street team, she talked about how she liked to include big and small content creators. It touched a soft spot in my soul and it was something that impacted me so much that those words made this book even more special to me. Words have always been impactful for me, but Rin really hit the nail on the head.
I’ve talked about this book a few times on my blog, but I feel like I don’t talk about it enough. This is one of those books I wish I had in my childhood. I think it would have made so many things easier and made a difference in my life. However, I can’t recommend it enough because it addresses a topic that’s so important to touch on. This is just one of those book where there’s not enough words to describe how a book touched your soul.
And my prediction book. I have no doubt that this book is going to make me feel seen, finally read a book with an Apache main character who’s written by an Apache author. I just can’t express how high my expectations are for this book and how I have no doubt this book is going to make my heart feel so full.
π Top Three Places I want to Travel to π
I love traveling, but it’s a bit of an Achilles’ heel for me. There are so many places I would love to visit, things to experience in those places, but I get really sick when I travel. So I don’t travel too often or too far away. I think the furthest I’ve ever traveled has been to New Hampshire.
But there’s so many places I want to visit and it’s been a hot minute since I’ve sat down to really look at my travel bucket list. So, I’m just going to list the first three that come to my mind.
βΈ Japan – Just in general I would love to go to Japan. I love the culture, I really enjoy learning the history of Japan, and my childhood best friend has been trying (to convince me to get on a plane) for all twenty years of our friendship to fly back with him and his family to Japan when they need to maintain their residency.
βΈ Ireland – This is more so for my spouse because my spouse’s family has a deep Irish heritage. Unfortunately, they ended up missing traveling to Ireland with the rest of their family due to preparing for deployment, at the time. So, I’d really love to go with my spouse or as a whole family. I’ve only heard bits and pieces from various family members, but I really want to know more about their heritage and their family history.
βΈ HawaiΚ»i – I think every one I know has been to HawaiΚ»i at least once. I’ve had a lot of family members travel there for gatherings and such. However, my main reason for going there is for two main reasons. My first being a dear friend of mine is often out there studying the flora and fauna of the island, and she has been wanting me to come out, experience the beauty of the island as a whole, and to in a sense, wants to pick my brain. The second reason is a bit of a selfish desire and that’s to learn more of the culture, speak with and learn from true Natives of HawaiΚ»i.
π Dream Place to Live π
New Hampshire Mountains, photo by myself
New Hampshire calls to me and all I want to do is build a house on the side of a mountain, in the middle of the woods, surrounded by nature. Truly, that’s the dream.
π A T.V. Show I’m Obsessed with π
I don’t really watch a lot of t.v. or movies anymore. I used to watch a lot of Friends, Gilmore Girls, Criminal Minds, a lot of anime shows, but if I ever watch t.v. shows, I’m doing reruns for these. Soo not a lot going on there.
However, I do watch Terrace House and a few other shows in Japanese with my childhood best friend. He and I will video call each other and watch the shows together when we both have the time. Sometimes his two brothers will join in and it’ll feel like we’re having our traditional misfit night.
So that’s about it for t.v. shows. I know, not much going on when it comes to t.v. shows.
π Last Three Songs I Listened to π
This is so hard because I listen to music all the time. Seriously, I have no chill when it comes to music. So these are the last three I remember listening to off the top of my head, but I don’t know if they were the last three songs I had listened to.
π Three People I’d Love to have Dinner with, Dead or Alive π
So I’ve thought about this a lot and I’m just going to list actual people because I want to branch away from some of the more bookish answers. Plus, I could make a list that goes on and on if I used bookish characters.
βΈ Robin Williams
βΈ Elizabeth Taylor
βΈ Roseanne Supernault
π Favorite Movie of All Time π
I have so many movies I love with my whole heart. So it’s hard to just think of one to choose. Now and days, it takes a lot for me to really love and enjoy a movie. I think the last film I ended up watching was Joker and absolutely fell in love with it, and the mental health representation in that film.
However, I think my absolute all time favorite is Clue. It holds a lot of memories I’m fond of and it’s a film I hold close to my heart because of the sentimental value I found in it. And just a lot of other personal reason on why this film just means a whole lot, why I watch it so often, and why it’s a film that’ll stay with me forever. Plus, Tim Curry stars in it and no one does it like Tim Curry does.
π Favorite Board Game π
This is another hard question! My spouse and I play a lot of board games and have two book cases filled with various games that we play, play with friends or family. It’s so hard to choose one because each game is so unique and different compared to the others. But I think my most favorite board game has to be Betrayal at House on the Hill. It such a good game, the board continuously changes, and it’s just a fun time especially for spooky season.
π Ultimate Comfort Food π
My one true food love! Nothing else can compared to gooey, cheesy, yummy goodness!
π A Celebrity/Literary Crush of Mine π
Oh jeez, I feel like this is taking skeletons out of the closet or something. Okay, I’m just going to drop this here and go hide.
π Favorite Season π
π Favorite Holiday π
π My Signature Scent π
Oh jeez, this question always makes me feel weird because I’ve always had the weird experience of people smelling me and telling me how nice I smell. So it’s a really awkward and odd question for me. I don’t know if I really have a signature scent though. However, there are some scents I frequently use in my day to day life.
I think the scent everyone finds around me is always vanilla or peppermint (anything mint in general). I have a lot of candles, sprays, air fresh sprays, even when I cook a lot of dessert or make homemade teas, I have a lot of vanilla and mint. Those are probably the most common scents you’ll smell when you’re around me.
However, not many people expect it, but I use a lot of evergreen or pine and lavender scents, as well. These are the scents I tend to break out for evening events, preparing for sleep, or basically any time I’m anxious. These are calming scents for me, while the first two scents make me wake up.
π Describe You Ideal Day π
That gif right there in my perfect day. I love fall days and rainy fall days, but there’s something about a snowy day that makes things wonderous and magical. It’s just something I really love and miss dearly.
π Something I’m Proud of π
This might be the hardest question of this whole thing. I know we’re supposed to look back on the things we’ve accomplished, but I’m having a hard time doing that. Maybe it’s from feeling like I haven’t accomplished many things this year or maybe it’s from looking at things as stepping stones instead of accomplishments.
If I really had to say, I think I would say the time I spent with the Social Distance Book Fest, interviewing Stephen Graham Jones, and I guess if I had to pick something that’s a work in-progress then I’d say finding my safety and voice again. These were all wonderful things that happened to me and if I take a step back, they kind of feel like accomplishments in their own way.
π Five Things I Love About Myself π
Okay, okay… I know I can’t dodge this question, though I wish I could. I find it a lot easier to find the good qualities in others than in myself. To quote Fruits Basket, “Maybe the reason you don’t see it is that it’s stuck to your back. What I mean is, a person’s admiral qualities – they’re just like, say, a pickled plum on a rice ball.” That’s kind of how this feels like. So I’m going to give this the ole’ college try!
βΈ I think I’m a good person and care about people a lot – sometimes a little too much and sometimes I wish I could turn the dial down just a little bit.
βΈ I’m good with animals. – A trait I’ve had every since I was a kid.
βΈ I guess I should say I’m a good singer, but I haven’t sung competitively or with a tutor/choir in a long time.
That’s three! I got three! Okay, I’m going to run and hide now.
π Some Blogs I Love π
Oh I love this! I love spreading my love for other blogs and I hope you all check them out! Okay, I’m going to try and link a few and not turn this into a ‘boost every single blog I love’ kind of post.
Oh boy, this hit a certain kind of way. I’m just going to put horseback riding and reading because those two things have always been an escape for me. I’ve mentioned a few times, but my upbringing wasn’t the easiest or kindest. So, yeah. NEXT!
π My Biggest Pet Peeve π
If we’re talking bookish then it has to be borrowing someone’s books and returning them damaged.
If we’re talking in general then I’d say cutting someone off while they’re trying to talk especially if they’re someone who struggles with letting their voice be heard or even speaking, and they get cut off in mid sentence.
Whew! Those were a lot of questions, but I hope you all got to know me a little better. This is the type of post that’s out of my comfort zone and I just wanted to do something a little different for all the new readers in my little corner of this community. It means so much and I’m really happy to have you here. π
Salutations fellow readers! As many of you know, I try to do very detailed book reviews. Even with my manga, graphic novels, poetry, etc… I try to be as detailed and thorough as I possibly can. During the beginning of 2020, I was asked by two friends about my reviewing process, items I use, and how I manage everything.
I’ll be honest, this process (and this article) has been a work in process for two years and I’m very excited to finally talk about my process. I didn’t start tweaking and critically reviewing/reading till the end of 2018. So this is an article that feels very personal and feels like one of the goals/achievements I’ve been striving towards. And even then this process has been adapting and changing as I adapt and change. This isn’t a perfect system, I don’t have this fully flushed out, and this is something that’s growing as I grow.
After all this time, I’m finally in a place where I feel confident to share this with all of you. And maybe what works for me, it may also help your own reading and reviewing process. So I hope you enjoy!
π Why I take Reading Notes π
Let me be frank, note taking isn’t for everyone. And if you’ve already tried note taking, but it didn’t work out, that’s completely fine. You’re not alone in feeling like that and you don’t have to push yourself. In fact, when I started being more active in the book community, I didn’t take notes while reading or reviewing either. I think the reason may be from my time spent in elementary school and being taught at such a young age to take notes in our textbooks, reading books, etc… For me, reading has always been an escape and over time it felt like pieces of my love for reading was being chipped away.
So taking the notes that I do now, it’s due to finding a love and enjoyment within note taking, and seeing all that work bloom into something I’m proud of. I got a little off topic, but the point is it took me a long time to get where I’m at now with reading and note taking. As I said, this process has taken me a long time to build and as I built this, there’s been healing, growth, and rediscovery. I’ve grown this into something positive to enhance my reading and fortify my own love for reading.
β³ It helps me keep track of important details such as content/trigger warnings, representation, character names and povs, settings, etc… This is incredibly important especially when you have genres like high fantasy.
β³ Sometimes I get pent up thoughts and energy about scenes, moments, and I need a space that allows me to word vomit, freak out, gush, etc… This spares my friends and family from me babbling like a brook and it’s a more private space for my thoughts, and feelings.
β³ It keeps a physical record of my thoughts and reading process. This becomes very useful for rereads and series. It allows me to see the growth, decline, and development of my feelings which play a large role in the way I write my reviews.
β³ These notes allow me to structure a coherent review. This comes in really handy especially during times when I’m really sick or don’t have a lot of energy (which is usually often), have burnout, my schedule is full, or if I’m traveling.
These are just a few of the reasons why note taking has been so beneficial to my reading especially when it comes to the reviews that I usually write. However, this is just how it makes things more helpful for me and it’s a different experience for everyone.
These are just a few of the items I use. Of course I have bookmarks, but these are the main items I use for all my note taking. The notebook itself can be spiral notebook. I use two different ones for note taking, but I always make sure one flips up and behind.
π How I take Reading Notes π
β³ Kindle Notes & Highlights
I feel like this should explain itself. I think everyone I know either has a Kindle Unlimited or are avid ebook readers. I’ll be honest, this is all a new process for myself because I prefer physical books over digital, but many people in my life have convinced to be more open to it.
For most user, I believe your highlighted quotes and details get uploaded to your GoodReads. However, I have my account separate. I usually use the highlighter to highlight specific passages, quotes, content/trigger warning areas in my ebooks so I don’t lose my place while writing the information down.
β³ Physical Notebook
This is where all the magic happens! I usually write everything down. I have two notebooks that I use while I read. These first notebook is my main notebook where all my notes for physical books are placed. I used this while I read, jot things down as I go along, etc… I usually break it down by the title at the top (with details of buddy read, arc & publishing date, etc…), content/trigger warnings at the next line, followed by setting, then characters and povs, and then comes all the details. The only time the detail section is different is when the book is a bind up or broken down into parts/sections. My second notebook is used for noting when I finished books and when I aim to post a review. Which usually goes hand-in-hand with how a lot of reviews get posted on here and in what order. I tend to add a little comment, as well. Most of the time the comment states whether or not the review needs to be posted sooner rather than later due to a blog tour, release date, or any other reason.
These help with keeping things organized and separate from one another. In the photo at the beginning of this article, you can actually see the second notebook I use for scheduling and organizing posts before they make it onto my blog. It may seem a bit chaotic and at times it can be, but it works for me and how I need to categorize things.
β³ Google Keep
I think this is the most underrated note taking system I have seen so far. I rarely hear anyone talk about the benefits of G. Keep and how useful it is when it comes to audiobooks.
I’m not much of an audiobook listener, but when I do listen to audiobooks, I find it incredibly hard to take notes especially if I’m working with a busy schedule on that day. This is where G. Keep comes in. G. Keep can be used from any mobile device and it’s great for jotting down quick notes. I find this has become a game changer for my audiobook reviews. If I hadn’t started using G. Keep more often, I probably wouldn’t have all the notes I usually do like my physical book reviews or ebooks. Plus, it’s been really helpful with brainstorming and jotting down any quotes that may pop up, that I may want to include in my reviews.
β³ Templates
Another thing I don’t often talk about is the set template I have for GoodReads. We all know GoodReads, WordPress, etc… uses coding or html formatting for making our reviews unique. Quite frankly, it can be a bit overwhelming. So in Microsoft Word, I’ve crafted a designated template for how I structure my reviews to make sure everything I want to include gets included in the post. Things such as my content and trigger warnings, and my rating details.
This is a process that can take a bit of time. I find WordPress is easier to draft reviews compared to GoodReads. However, if you don’t mind taking 30 minutes to an hour to creating you own template, I swear it’s worth it. Plus, having that template stored in a place like Microsoft Word or Google Docs will allow you to just copy and paste that template onto a new file to type out that review for whatever specific book you need a review for.
As a side note, if you’re looking to just take notes and you don’t want all the extra bits. A new document, a new page in Microsoft Word, Good Docs, or whatever office system you may use will work just fine. This another great way to take notes especially if you don’t want to invest in notebooks.
β³ Notion
As I’ve mentioned, this has been a process that’s been growing at the same pace I grow. So it’s only natural that I mention the recent addition to my note taking, organizing, etc…
Notion has been taking the book community by storm and I’ve jumped on the bandwagon as well. I haven’t heard about this anywhere outside of the book community so far. So far, Notion seems to be an all encompassing site that has elements of Google Docs, Google Keep, elements similar to WordPress, and so much more! As I’ve been exploring, I’ve been having a fun time tinkering with the different templates and I’m finding this is taking my organization to a new level. I now have a bookish calendar to keep track of scheduled posts, I’ve crafted a bookish schedule, and this has even been allowing me to prep for arcs. This has been such a fantastic source for note taking too!
If you haven’t checked out Notion yet, definitely give it a chance! I feel like I’ve leveled up in some way and I’ve really been having a great time with it. Truly, there’s so much you can do on this site and I think so many people in the book community are going to benefit from using it.
I hope you all enjoyed this deeper look into how I take my reading notes! This isn’t a perfect system, it keeps growing and building every day, but this has been working for me so far. I think my biggest recommendation out of all of this is to just experiment and see what works for you. Not everyone is going to like note taking and some may need a more creative way to take their notes. It truly is a process of experimentation and the best way to do that it to play around with a plethora of things. You have to choose what’s comfortable for you. I truly hope I was able to help some of you, you give you an idea of my own process. And please, don’t hesitate to share your own note taking tips or some of the ways that help you when you write your own reviews. Until next time, happy reading and reviewing! I love you! π§‘
Happy fall Chapterlings! The weather has gotten cooler (at least here), the fall/spooky season theme is thriving, and my spooky season tbr is gigantic, per usual. With the fall season being here, it’s time for another yearly and seasonal fall recommendations post.
These aren’t set in any particular order, but I hope you end up loving these picks!
This book takes place during the days leading up to Dia De Los Muertos, where we follow Yadriel who is trying to find out what happened to his cousin, Miguel and help the spirit of Julian Diaz. Filled with heart-warming relationships, found family, and traditions and acceptance. This is one book you’ll want to place on your tbr this fall!
In a world that’s divided by light and darkness, this on-going story follows horned-like beast named Teacher and a young girl, Shiva who live on the outside. Where their only goal is to stay safe and look after one another. But they face many challenges ahead from those who want to tear the unlikely pair apart. Filled with darkish elements, an unlikely bound, and a prophecy unfulfilled, this manga is sure to make your spooky tbr even more interesting!
Are you missing the Renaissance Festival like I am? Then look no further! Dive back into the world of the Renaissance Festival and the small town of Willow Creek, following Stacy, the best friend of Emily from the first book, Well Met. This is the perfect fall read for those who love Ren. Fest, but can’t attend this year due to Covid. With close friendships, the need for change, and a romance you won’t forget, this is sure to give you all the soft vibes and the Renaissance Festival from the comfort of home!
Where Dreams Descend is such an atmospheric read! For the lovers of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge, you’re sure to fall in love with this fantasy read! I was completely smitten and can’t help recommending this for your fall reading.
Hauntingly chilling and atmospheric, The Only Good Indians is the perfect book for lovers of slow burn horror/thriller reads. It’s been a while since a book gave me goosebumps up my spine. This is not only a great book for the spooky season, but also a good book to consider picking up for the month of November for Native American Heritage Month. I want to encourage you to seek out reviews from Indigenous creators to learn their thoughts on this book and what they really appreciated about this book.
This is a bit of a bonus book for fall. Every year I recommend picking this book up. This is one of my all time favorite books to read during the spooky season and it’s one of my favorite movies to watch, as well. This is a fast-paced, eerie read set on Halloween night. You’ll learn about the meaning of Halloween as a group of kids race to save their friend, Pipkin.
Okay, friends! Those are all my fall recommendations for right now! I’m sure there’s more than I listed, but I hope you still enjoyed this list despite it being on the smaller side. Do you have some fall recommendations? Come tell me about them in the comments below! Until next time, I hope you’re ready for spooky season, a gentle reminder to stay hydrated, and as always, I love you! π§‘
I’m not really sure how to start this off and it’s not much of a life update. This is really just me sharing my thoughts and where I’ve kind of been recently. I’m going to try to keep this brief because I’m the type of person who, if it’s not good news, then I don’t want to make a big deal about it or spend too much time on it. But I feel like I need to talk about these things because it impacts the content that I’m creating and putting out. Plus, I’ve been a ghost and haven’t really talked much about my thought process.
The simple answer to leaving book Twitter: my mental health, my time and energy.
So starting with book Twitter, there have been multiple things leading up to me leaving book Twitter. To give you an actual timeline, this is something I’ve been considering since the start of 2020. Since then, I’ve had conversations with really close friends (multiple times, even up to this point), I’ve had those conversations and it’s given myself a lot to think about, to consider. Ultimately, no matter how much I was curating my space, it seemed like the negativity was finding a way into my feed. Which some negativity is fine, but when it’s so constant and almost every single day, it can really wear a person down. And it reached a point where all my energy was being drained away and I was at a point where I’ve been longing to reclaim where my energy was being divided and put into.
There’s also the matter of the person who came into my personal spaces on all my social media and made me feel incredibly unsafe. After what happened with my Instagram account, I was having a lot of nervously charged energy every time I logged onto Twitter (which happened anyhow). Without going into details, I was feeling very unsafe and uncomfortable. So ultimately, after talking with two very trusted and very close people, I made the decision to do right by myself and my mental health, and remove myself from book Twitter all together. And that’s that.
I’ve recently been asked if I’ll be returning to social media. More in the sense of showing my face in videos, sharing photos of myself on IG stories, meet the blogger/reader posts, etc… The simple answer is not right now. I was originally planning on fully returning to social media this September, but I just don’t see that happening at this time. And that’s perfectly okay because I should only return if I feel comfortable and feel safe again in my spaces.
I’ve also been asked if I would be sharing why I went into a social media lock down. The short answer is no, I will not talk about what happened. Same with my original plan to come back to social media in September, I was planning on telling my friends about it and voicing what happened to me. After some events that have happened over the course of the three months of my lock down, I no longer feel comfortable talking about it or even feel safe sharing that information anymore. I’ve also been struggling with finding my voice in the community and trying to be vocal with certain things. With all of that being said, I won’t be talking about it, I won’t respond to messages asking about it, I’m washing my hands clean of it and any essence of it.
And finally some announcements that have to be made. The first announcement having to do with Black Sun. I think in two of my recent posts I had a recent announcement stating I had exciting news to share about it. The news I had to share about that book in no longer happening, but my review for Black Sun should be coming by the end of this month or sometime during the first week of October. So that will still be happening and I’m actually really excited to be reading it.
The second announcement is a bit of a painful one and I don’t want to spend anymore time thinking about it than I already have. I will no longer be a part of OMG She’s Indigenous. For my mental health and security, I won’t be part of it anymore. I will not be answering questions about why I stepped down or anything. I hope those boundaries can be respected.
Moving forward, you’ll still find me on Instagram, GoodReads, and this blog. I tend to spend time on those the most. So those are the places you’ll be able to find me if you want to connect, chat about books, or just say ‘hello’. I’ll be spending time getting back to the things I enjoy and devoting more time to relearn things I’m passionate about.
I know this was kind of long, but I hope I got my point across. If you read this whole thing and stuck around to the very end, thank you for your love and support. I’m hoping that when I return I’ll be stronger, happier, and having a new found love for the things that bring me happiness. Again, thank you so, so much for the continued love and support! π
Daβanzho (pronounced dah-ahn-zho)! If you didn’t know, Michelle from Thor Wants Another Letter and I have come together to bring you, OMG She’s Indigenous, where we read or watch Indigenous literature or films then discuss it in a live show. And I’m so happy to finally be announcing our July Pick! A side note: we’ll be discussing the book as well as the movie! You can get the movie HERE!
If you’re not following us on the OMG She’s Indigenous social media, check out our Twitter and IG!
And if you haven’t followed Michelle yet, find her on Twitter, IG, and YouTube!
July 18th: Chapters 1 – 4 July 19th: Chapters 5 – 8 July 20th: Chapters 9 – 12 July 21st: Chapters 13 – 16 July 22nd: Chapters 17 – 20 July 23rd: Chapters 21 – 24 July 24th: Chapters 25 – 29
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a loved one, suicide, grief, depression, cheating, homophobia, drugs/drug dealing, violence/gun violence, underage drinking, mentions of rape/pedophilia
Liveshow: July 26th, 2020 | 7 p.m. CST/8 p.m. EST
And that’s our July pick! Don’t forget to watch the movie as well! We’ll be discussing both book and movie in our live show. You’ll hear us discuss the things we loved, the things that weren’t as good, and most importantly, talking about the Indigenous representation. If you have followed the OMG She’s Indigenous social media or Michelle’s social media, make sure you go change that right now. Of course, if you’re here on this blog then you’re already following me, but if you’re new here, check out my links below if you want connect with me. Until next time (or at least until the live show), stay safe, remember to hydrate, I love you! π§‘
Chapter Malliumpkin 